New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-28
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE POLICE
SOME FACTS WIIICH HAVE BEE NOrED.

SOME FACTS WHICH HAVE BEE NOTED.
HOW THE SYSTEM W RKs IN ONE DEPAETMHNI-
ADVICE FROM 1HE COHPOHATION COUNSEL.
Mavor Hewitt Yesterday sent letter w.licA lie had
received from ]. Rhincandcr Dillon, suggesting tna'
three strong should be employed 10 PH'roi bI'"u
WAY rom Chambers st. TO Pinest, III or"er 10 "'S'9V
truckmen and drivers in unloading and loading up tner
trucks when broken down. The-Mayor suggested that
the Police Department might furnish the strong men
Chief Clerk Kipp was dir ctcd to return Mr. Dilons
letter to tho Mayor with the statement that the Poicc
Department had money with which TO pay 'e "'5c'
OF men employed In such service ana that the le'er
probably ought TO he referred to the commissioner u
Public Works.
CORPORATION Counsel Brlen sent to the Board several
opinons regarding the duties of the police i'll enforcing
the laws against Sabbath breaking Regarding DANCING
on Sundays he Isad that balls TO which the pnc were
admitted Illegal 1t did not matter persons we're
admitted free or were obliged buy hat checks Public
dancing on Sundays could be stopped by the p'lce'
Private balls on Sundays from which The puhlic were
excluded were legal and must not he intericied wi
Regarding proposal TO keep the Poultry snow open o"
Sunday and also concerning Sunday exhiDltlohs o. paint
ings Mr. OBrien said 1T would be well for the ponce 10
consult with the Distrct-Atorney and apply TOT
warrants before making arrests The Board dccde
TO ask Mr. O'Bren If the toboggan slide at tleet"ooi
Park could lie kept open Sundays. George l. jones'
the supernendent of the slide was arrested last sun
day but WAS discharged in police court
WORKING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
The Board sent letter to Lee Philips Inc secretary
of the Civil Service Board. OF which the following Is the
substance:
The Board of Police have directed me TO actnowlcdse
the receipt OF your communication OF the l3th INST,
requesting an of the working of the CiN service
system a. applied to this department, ana III reply 10
state that the Commissioners OF Police nave peeh u,pe
IN discover in the working of such System aN improve
ncut upon Their method OF examination into the merits
aud qualifications of candidates for apr0n,en on t nr
many years the time OF the Introduction OF tnG %
Civil service system. August ~, 1854 ana Wnlcn ma
fully established its right TO public commeEdaon by It's
good and evident results ,., &, ,,o ~,
whoesomc and very restrictions OF tie Board OF
Police in the selection of candidates i9r aIp''n 49,, 80
compeng the appointment of veterans OF the late war
without regard to age 10 certain positions on 'e r
detrimental the efficiency and vel being OF le iHee
Department and that 1t VIII be- 10 me cases Ui 'Is
last mentioned, a serious cnaiso "io" " ' '
he statute referred to tCnspter AGA OF the laws Of
1851 compels Board of Police 10 prefer Tor appoint
ment uf the eligible list Hoollhci ~ 80 " p14
orablv discharged Union soldiers and sailors even
though such persons may be NIFTY nne Years 81 az az
who under another statute, VIII be ane TO W ,
retirement upon pensions for life OF onelii OF the rae
OF their compensation upon arriving ~ tnu &c ~ it9
years In the case of surgeon the pension Is i"''o'
II seems hardly necessary TO comment uron the APP
parent injustice Inconsistency ana nnPaopIIe'SS 80
part OF the INT law and CiN ser ice req
the Board Police required t. H. vacancies u" lo
selection of candidates from an eligible iist coilani
,iTnse was further abridged by coinpels the Board
manv rcrsons as there are ,acance- to he ncd with
tho addition of two names for the fsi Naci'l i "h"
maine for every two vacancies III addition 10 TIE ii'
For example eligible list for ten vacancies "ouu
contain bat sixteen names ,s
Police 10 the Civl service Board the right ad "n" OF
selecting proper persons TO- aPp'n'nc1 rs ri.'onrn'
from a very large number ~ canld'l'' oi 49,
who have passed all EXAMINATIONS req .cu a.. t''ul'
and who have been rr"nHunC'I ei comm, Of
Police TO make appointments from ia" Ntrl "m"eu
which must be apparent that such Couin- ncrs rom
their Official position aud co-equont fnmi"iy WIN al
Of th, re uirencns of the Office 20 nf tri are OF
should be- more than any other Board CON oh or
pet nrh cen3,c. bern at TIE ac tine b,i stiio,
accountability Tor their appointment upon TIE ponce
force
PRACTICAL KT,ULTs NOTICED.
brief reference TO the practical result - the present
system might he reasonably considered IN ihi' c'nnec
ton Since August 20. 81 ihe date upon which the
Civil Service regulations went into ocrii4"ni i'"o-
persons have been employed GA probation an appointed
a. patromen The percentage OF dlsnis-Als aud reois'
nations while under serious charges Tor the three wears
and four months prior 70 That dair vas ~ 49, ""p'
with the total iorce That d"ir The per- .niht" 81
G.missals and r.sigaiinus under CHAR al members
the force who were aIionir4 l'l"i 10 Alt... ~
orrfrrd since that date. va, 800 Ilc prfccntage 81
d smissals and designations under charges o. cn'fI,
o. the force WHO weio appointed subsequent 70 August
burng the year l-S7 lhere have been ,, Xxx c3 3
plants against patIolmen for ~ cause, % "I'h ,i
were against those appointed under the present. ohli
system. 1Nc percentage ~ .'oI+ ' '''
cause. against OF the force HpI"icd piipr 10
August D. lSsi, during the year lH@9. "ts D. The
percentage complaints against members OF The force
appoiuied under the present tiy service sAsitin our
ing the year ls-7. was Ill II tAis result mas any
sirnucai,cc u undoubtedly shows tn greater &d'an
tages the system Of examination ni selection 81 can
d!dates for appointment "a parOWen, ad"ptcd ny ne
Commissioners OF Police por the introduction o the
present Civil service sysien.
The COMMISSIONS desire TO make no criticism OF ne
varjons forms and methods Of cXanIntil oi caudl-
dates and recognize with some feeling q" aIlf"riaoh
the fact that tncy been practically embodied N
your system from the glua nirfhO Is ad1pel ana IN
force AZ the time the introduction al the lil service
regulations, neither DO they dihcr a. To The M lin
figure OF merit established !; but fICy ~pecfliiN submit
that the efficiency % the Police Department woIi br
greatly enhanced If the gidOn- were ~ nollhci as
10 give the Beard OF Police the privilege or selecting
candidates appointment on The force fToln among al
who NAV have passed such examinations as the Civh
Service Board may require.